ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has announced more than $1.275 million in competitive grants to fund six climate resilience projects aimed at helping communities prepare for flooding and severe weather.
According to the department, the selected projects will focus on reducing risk for vulnerable communities, updating local plans to account for climate change, and developing natural solutions to control flooding and erosion.
Funding comes from the state’s Resiliency Through Restoration Initiative and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The Resiliency Through Restoration Initiative, which began in 2017 as a pilot program, is now concluding its state funding. Since its launch, the program has supported 36 restoration designs, 20 construction projects, and three adaptive management projects across 38 communities in 13 jurisdictions.
“This funding helps our communities become more resilient to the impacts of climate change by investing in proven, nature-based solutions,” Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary Josh Kurtz said in a statement.
Grant awards for Fiscal Year 2026 include the following projects, pending final approval by federal partners:
Somerset County: Design of a living shoreline with a headland, beach nourishment, vegetated dune, and the beneficial use of dredged material to protect the Fisher of Men Foundation and Deal Island Road infrastructure.
Worcester County:
Town of Berlin: Development of a climate resiliency and adaptation plan to evaluate current and future flood risk, assess impacts to local infrastructure, and recommend strategies to reduce risk. The town plans to update its Comprehensive Plan to include the new resiliency measures.
Maryland Coastal Bays Program: Construction of approximately 4,400 linear feet of living shoreline with wetland enhancements on the north side of Tizzard Island. The project is designed to protect wildlife habitat and buffer mainland communities from coastal storms.
Beginning in mid-July, the department will open the next grant application cycle through its online Grants Gateway. Officials said some program modifications are expected because of funding limitations at both the state and federal levels.